Penryn RFC
| Full name | Penryn Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Cornwall RFU | |
| Nickname(s) | The Borough | |
| Founded | 1872 | |
| Location | Penryn, Cornwall, England | |
| Ground(s) | Memorial Ground, (Capacity: 4,000 (200 seats)[1][2]) | |
| Chairman | Matthew Gray | |
| President | Tim Nicholls | |
| Captain(s) | Andrew Seviour | |
| League(s) | Counties 1 Western West | |
| 2023–24 | 6th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
Penyrn RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of Penryn, and is the oldest club side in the county having been formed in 1872.[3] The club currently has two senior men's teams (the seconds are known as the Saracens) as well as a ladies team, colts, and multiple mini/youth sides (male and female). Nicknamed "The Borough" the club's colours are black and red.[4] The men's first team play in Counties 1 Western West - a league at level 7 of the English rugby union system - having been promoted from Cornwall/Devon as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. They enjoy a rivalry with neighbours, Falmouth RFC.
History
Cornish dominance
Formed in 1872, Penryn are the oldest club side in Cornwall.[3] The 1960s and 1970s were the glory days for the club as they dominated domestic rugby. This period of dominance began during the 1964–65 season when the club claimed a hat-trick of titles including the South West Merit Table, the Cornwall Knock-out Cup and the Cornwall Sevens Cup.[5] In 1968 they claimed the inaugural Cornwall Cup when they defeated Redruth 5–0 at the Recreation Ground in nearby Falmouth.[6] Between 1968 and 1975, Penryn appeared in six finals, winning the cup five times which included sharing the 1970 cup after a 7–7 draw with St Ives (who also enjoyed great success during the early years of the cup).[7] The glory days would not last forever and the 1975 final victory over Penzance & Newlyn would be the club's fifth and last Cornwall Cup title, as they began to be overtaken by other clubs in the region such as Redruth and Camborne.[8]
League rugby
The advent of the Courage leagues in 1987–88 saw Penryn placed in Courage Cornwall/Devon, a regional league ranked at tier 8 of the new league system. Penryn started league rugby well, winning successive league titles in 1989 and 1990 and gaining promotion to South West 2.[9][10] In 1992 the club gained a third promotion in five seasons when they went up to South West Division 1 – which at tier 5 is the highest league ranking the club have achieved in its history.[11] Early success in the league was counteracted with relegation in 1993 after just one season in South West Division 1.[12] The club would stabilize in South West 2 for the rest of the 1990s but as they moved into the millennium they were relegated to Western Counties West in 2001.[13] Two years later Penryn had one of their best seasons of recent memory as they won all 22 league games in Western Counties West on the way to claiming the title and promotion, scoring over 1,000 points in the process.[14] The club retained momentum the following season as they finished second in South West 2 West, qualifying for a promotion play-off which they won 23–19, away to South West 2 East runner-up Swanage and Wareham.[15][16]
The 2005–06 season saw Penryn in South West Division 1 which at tier 5 was the highest league ranking they had achieved since 1993. Although Penryn were competitive in the division, taking place in a furious relegation battle, they ended up going down on points difference (for/against) in 10th place, despite being tied on league points with relegation rivals, Clevedon and Oxford Harlequins.[17] As is sometimes the case with a relegated team, Penryn struggled the following season and went down for the second year running, after a poor league campaign that saw only 2 wins.[18] The slump was halted in 2009 when Penryn won the Tribute Cornwall/Devon title, following up with a second promotion in 2011 when they won Tribute Western Counties West.[19][20] Life in Tribute South West 1 West was short lived, however, and Penryn were relegated at the end of the 2011-12 season.[21] The 2015–16 season was a disappointing one for the club as they were relegated from Tribute Western Counties West, falling back down to Tribute Cornwall/Devon. They did have a chance of silverware at the end of the season but lost heavily to a very strong Camborne in the final of the Cornwall Cup held at Tregorrick Park in St Austell.[22][23] The club finished their first season back in Cornwall/Devon League in fifth place at the end of the 2016–17 season after relegation from Western Counties West.
At the end of the 2018–19 season Penryn were promoted as champions of Cornwall/Devon back into Western Counties West.
Season summary
| Season | League | National Cup(s) | County Cup(s) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition/Level | Position | Points | Competition | Performance | Competition | Performance | ||||||||
| 1987–88 | Cornwall/Devon (8) | 3rd | 17 | |||||||||||
| 1988–89 | Cornwall/Devon (8) | 1st (promoted) | 18 | |||||||||||
| 1989–90 | Western Counties (7) | 1st (promoted)[24] | ||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | South West 2 (6) | |||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | South West 2 (6) | 3rd (promoted)[25] | ||||||||||||
| 1992–93 | South West 1 (5) | 13th (relegated)[26] | ||||||||||||
| 1993–94 | South West 2 West (6) | |||||||||||||
| 1994–95 | South West 2 West (6) | |||||||||||||
| 1995–96 | South West 2 West (6) | 4th | 14 | |||||||||||
| 1996–97 | South West 2 West (6) | 6th[27] | 22 | |||||||||||
| 1997–98 | South West 2 West (6) | 11th[28] | 8 | |||||||||||
| 1998–99 | South West 2 West (6) | 11th[29] | 15 | |||||||||||
| 1999–00 | South West 2 West (6) | 8th[30] | 16 | |||||||||||
| 2000–01 | South West 2 West (6) | 12th (relegated)[31] | 6 | NPI Intermediate Cup | 6th Round[32] | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round[33] | |||||||
| 2001–02 | Western Counties West (7) | 2nd (lost playoff)[34] | 38 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 4th Round[35] | Cornwall Cup | Runners up | |||||||
| 2002–03 | Western Counties West (7) | 1st (promoted)[36] | 44 | Powergen Cup | 1st Round | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round[37][38] | |||||||
| 2003–04 | South West 2 West (6) | 2nd (promoted via playoff)[39] | 31 | Powergen Intermediate Cup | 3rd Round[40][41] | Cornwall Cup | Semi-finals[42] | |||||||
| 2004–05 | South West 1 (5) | 7th | 20 | Powergen Cup | 1st Round | Cornwall Cup | Runners up | |||||||
| 2005–06 | South West 1 (5) | 10th (relegated)[43] | 14 | Powergen Trophy | 2nd Round[44] | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round[45] | |||||||
| 2006–07 | South West 2 West (6) | 11th (relegated)[46] | 1 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 1st Round[47] | Cornwall Cup | 1st Round[48] | |||||||
| 2007–08 | Western Counties West (7) | 12th (relegated)[49] | 0 | EDF Energy Senior Vase | 2nd Round[50] | Cornwall Cup | 1st Round[51] | |||||||
| 2008–09 | Cornwall/Devon (8) | 1st (promoted)[52] | 36 | EDF Energy Senior Vase | 1st Round[53] | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | Western Counties West (7) | 6th[54] | 29 | Cornwall Cup | 1st Round[55] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | Western Counties West (7) | 1st (promoted)[56] | 103[a 1] | Cornwall Cup | Semi-finals[57] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | South West 1 West (6) | 12th (relegated)[58] | 45 | |||||||||||
| 2012–13 | Western Counties West (7) | 5th[59] | 79 | |||||||||||
| 2013–14 | Western Counties West (7) | 6th[60] | 65 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 4th Round[61] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | Western Counties West (7) | 11th[62] | 40 | RFU Intermediate Cup | 4th Round[63][64] | Cornwall Cup | Semi-finals[65] | |||||||
| 2015–16 | Western Counties West (7) | 13th (relegated)[66] | 38 | Cornwall Cup | Runners up | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | Cornwall Devon (8) | 5th[67] | 71 | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round[68][69] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | Cornwall Devon (8) | 3rd[70] | 108 | Cornwall Cup | 2nd Round[71][72] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | Cornwall Devon (8) | 1st (promoted)[73] | 113 | RFU Senior Vase | Semi-finals (SW)[74] | Cornwall Cup | Quarter-finals[75][76] | |||||||
| 2019–20 | Western Counties West (7) | 6th | 74.10[a 2] | Cornwall Cup | ||||||||||
| 2020–21 | Western Counties West (7) | |||||||||||||
| Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation. | ||||||||||||||
Honours
- South West Merit Table champions: 1965
- Cornwall Knock-out Cup winners: 1965
- Cornwall Sevens Cup winners: 1965
- Cornwall Cup winners (5): 1968, 1970 (shared), 1972, 1973, 1975
- South-west promotion play-off (east v west) winners: 2003–04
- Tribute Cornwall/Devon champions (3): 1988–89, 2008–09, 2018–19
- Tribute Western Counties West champions (3): 1989–90, 2002–03, 2010–11
Notable former players
Roger Hosen – born in Mabe he started career with Penryn before going to play for a number of clubs including Northampton Saints, gaining 10 caps for England. As well as playing rugby union he was also a keen cricketer, representing Cornwall.[78]- Ken Plummer – Penryn born winger who played for the club as well as Bristol and Welsh side Newport. Went on to gain 4 caps for England.[79][78]
- Vic Roberts – played part of his career with Penryn. Gained 16 caps for England as well as being selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of 1950.
- Adryan Winnan – Penryn born full-back who started his career with the club. Went on to play Premiership rugby for Saracens as well as appearing for the Cornish Pirates late in his career.[80]
- Tom Voyce – Truro born player whose position was full-back or wing and who started his career with the minis at Penryn. Went on to play in the Premiership with the likes of Bath and Wasps as well as gaining 9 caps for England.
- Hugh Vyvyan – spent a season with Penryn in the 90s. Went on to forge a Premiership Premiership career playing at lock for Newcastle Falcons and Saracens, which included a solitary international cap for England.[81]
Notes
- ^ The 2010–11 season would see the introduction of bonus points into lower league English rugby union (tier 6 and below).
- ^ The season was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with Penryn sitting in 6th, having played 22 games and gained 65 points. The remaining games were calculated on a 'best playing record formula', with Penryn remaining in 6th place with 74.10 points.[77]
See also
References
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- ^ "Penryn denied by last-gasp penalty". South West Farmers. 17 October 2007.
- ^ a b "Penryn RFC". Penryn Town Council. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "Penryn RFC". Penryn RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "Penryn rugby players reunite after 50 years". Cornwall Live. 22 March 2015.
- ^ "Cornish Glory: The History of Redruth Rugby". Redruth Rugby. 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Honours - Honours 1 - St Ives RFC - Pitchero". Pitchero. 22 March 2015.
- ^ "Re: PIRATES - The Best & The Worst". RugbyNetwork.net. 24 July 2009.
- ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990-91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd.
- ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
- ^ Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook 1992-93. Cornwall RFU. 1992.
- ^ Official Handbook and Byelaws. Season 1992–93. Cornwall Rugby Football Union. 1992. p. 111.
- ^ "South West 2 West 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "Final League Tables 2002–2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "South West 2 West 2003–2004". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "South West Play-offs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
- ^ "South West 1, 2005–2006". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "South West 2 West 2006–2007". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2008 - 2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "Final League Tables, 2010–2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Tribute South West 1 West 2011–2012". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ "South West Division 2015-16". England Rugby. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ "Camborne overpower Penryn to make history with fourth Tribute Cornwall Cup win in a row". Western Morning News. 2 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
- ^ Cornwall Rugby Football Union Official Handbook 1992-93. Cornwall RFU. 1992.
- ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 151–167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1996-97". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1997-98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1998-99". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 1999-2000". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "South West 2 West 2000–2001". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "Borough's cup hopes ended by Kenilworth". South West Farmer. 11 January 2001.
- ^ "Cornish All-Blacks made to fight for victory". South West Farmer. 9 February 2001.
- ^ "Final League Tables, 2001–2002". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Agony for Borough". South West Farmer. 29 November 2001.
- ^ "Final League Tables 2002–2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "All Blacks kill off cup dream". South West Farmer. 24 February 2003.
- ^ "Pirates opt out of Cornwall Cup". South West Farmer. 20 June 2002.
- ^ "South West 2 West 2003–2004". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "Injury-hit Borough's pride remains intact". South West Farmer. 21 November 2003.
- ^ "Walkover for Borough". South West Farmer. 23 October 2003.
- ^ "Truro upset odds to reach cup final". South West Farmer. 15 April 2004.
- ^ "South West 1, 2005–2006". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Powergen National Trophy 2005/06". Statbunker. 16 September 2005.
- ^ "Upset as cup tie called off". South West Farmer. 4 January 2006.
- ^ "Final League Tables, 2007–2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Effort is there but Borough unable to end dismal run". South West Farmer. 1 November 2006.
- ^ "Bay expose gulf in class". South West Farmer. 3 January 2007.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2007 - 2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "Penryn denied by last-gasp penalty". South West Farmer. 17 October 2007.
- ^ "Borough beaten in cup". South West Farmer. 13 February 2008.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2008 - 2009". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "Borough beaten in tight tie". South West Farmer. 10 September 2008.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2009 - 2010". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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- ^ "Final League Tables, 2010–2011". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Cornwall Cup semi final game OFF". Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "Tribute South West 1 West 2011–2012". England Rugby. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- ^ "FINAL LEAGUE TABLES, 2012 - 2013". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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- ^ "South West Division Cups". England Rugby. 27 January 2015.
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- ^ "South West Division Cups". England Rugby. 21 December 2014.
- ^ "RUGBY: Last minute miss sees Penryn go out of Cornwall Cup". South West Farmer. 16 March 2015.
- ^ "Tribute Western Counties West 2015–2016". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
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- ^ "Tribute Cornwall Cup 2016/17". St Ives RFC. 4 November 2016.
- ^ "Tribute Cornwall/Devon 2017–2018". England Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
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- ^ "Tribute Cornwall/Devon 2018–2019". England Rugby. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
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- ^ "Full Cornish Fixtures & Results 2018-19". Trelawney's Army. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "RFU confirms league positions". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ a b "'Mr Penryn' celebrates 90th birthday". Falmouth Packet. 17 June 2013.
- ^ "KEN PLUMMER". Newport RFC. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Adryan Winnan Record by competition". Rugby Statbunker. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
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